Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-04-28

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service rules the clerks of the interstate
commission. There is not a word of
truth in it," he replied. Commissioner
Morrison, when asked the same question
Just puckered his mouth and emitted a
loud whistle, which was construed as q
denial more reliable than words.
Two companies of infantry will be as
signed at "a early date 10 open the new
posts recently established at Chicago and
Denver. 1t is not believed that either of
these posts will be very extensive, but
may grow to a detail vi perhaps three
companies each. They will start in, how
ever, with one company each until greater
accommodations can be built. 1t Is not
known yet at the War Department what
companies will be designated for the new
posts, as that was left TO the discretion of
General Terry, commander Of the division,
who will make his selections in few
days.
ALEXANDER MITCHELLS SUDDEN DEATH.
Alexander Mitchell Wisconsin's mil
lionaire banker and railroad magnate, has
run his earthly course. At 2;30 O'Clock
Tuesday afternoon at the Hoffman house,
New York City, he laid down the temple
of clay worn and wearied with the cares
and labors of an eventful and useful life
and entered into his eternal rest, after
brief illness. Wisconsin may well feel
deep pride in claiming him as a citizen.
Mr.. Mitchell possessed shrewd business
faculties equalled by few and excelled by
none. His strict honesty coupled with
this made success for him inevitable. He
was the wealthiest man of the state and
always used his mighty influence for
good purposes, never resorting to base or
under-hRnded schemes. This influence
was not only felt in his home city and
state but extended 10 the business cir:les
of the whole world to which his death
will be shock as great as it was sudden.
The immediate cause Of his death was
failure of the action of the heart brought
on by pneumonia. The Milwaukee Even
ing journal gives the following historical
SIX etch of Mr.. Mltchells life:
Alexander Mitchell was born oct IS,
II, in tae parish of Elton, Aberdeen
shire. scotland. His father WAS farmer,
and the early days of tine future tiuancier
were passed in the same ayocation. For
to years he studied law in Aberdeen,
End then went into bank at Peterhead,
and remained there until he came TO Mil
wRukee in May, 1889, when, in company
with George Smith, of Chicago, he organ
4 hr. nj ira In
surance company, an institution that was
in reality a bank, although not called ono
on account of the law then in force, The
bills of this company were the only relia-
BILE paper currency the territory had for
many years, yet despite the times every
dollar was redeemed when presented.
IL 184l, David Ferguson, joined Mr..
Mitchell in the bank, and despite the
panics, runs and other incidents common
TO institutions of the kind, there has
never been time during the forty eight
years of its existence that "Mitchells
bank" as il is commonly called, had not
met every liability.
Following the panic of 1857 the city of
Milwaukee was in condition of almost
hopeless bankruptcy, owing to the issue
OF railroad and other bonds and plan
passed in the legislature, largely by advice
Of Mr.. Mitchell, who, with Chas. Quentin
and Joshua Hathaway constituted the
first commissioners of public debt. Under
the various city administrations the com
mission has been frequently changed as
to two of its mombers, but Mr.. Mitchell
has been constantly reappointed, doing q
great deal of gratuitous work for the
t1f,ttu
for its securities and interest.
1t is as a manager and promoter of
railroads that the deceased was best
known to the world. he having been for
years at the head of the Chicago, Milwau-
kee d St. Paul company, corporation
that controls more miles of road than any
other in the world Fron tbs time rail
roads were first constructed here
until the panic of 1851 each
line was operated by a separate com
pany, and some of them paid. After the
panic things grew worse. and continued
so ali through the war, until May ., 1868
when the Milwaukee ST. Paul company
was incorp orated by Mr.. Mitchell and his
associates, who saw that the only way TO
save what they had invested in building
the different lines was 10 bring them
under one management. ME. Anton
ell was elected president and ), 5. Mer-
rill general manager, and taking up the
loose ends where others had dropped
them, they knit togegher q railway sys-
tenn that mas made Milwaukee the city it
is, and brought 70 its merchants trade
from the most remote points of the west
ern territories.
Politically Mr. Mitchell was originally
q whig, then he joined the republicans in
electing Lincoln and prosecuting the
war; afterwards joining with the
democrats in support Of Presi-
dent johnson. Since then his party sent
him to congress in 1870 and 1872,
and would have continued him
there if he had not declined further Of
fee. He was one of the delegates that
nominated Mr.. Iilden, and was one
OF his most ardent supporters. In
1879 the democrats wanted him 20 be q
candidate for governor, but he declined
throughout his political career he was al
wars moderate and conservative in hls
a fae1r. m "a aEr~AE that